ACCG awards Rep. Victor Anderson 2022 Legislative Service Award
Business, News July 1, 2022
ATLANTA – District 10 State Representative Victor Anderson (R-Cornelia), who represents portions of Rabun, White and Habersham counties, received a prestigious award for his legislative service Wednesday.
ACCG Deputy Legislative Director Todd Edwards presented the award during this week’s Rabun County Board of Commissioners.
“I am humbled and honored to represent the people of House District 10 in the Georgia General Assembly and work closely with ACCG to ensure that smart, efficient and effective legislation is considered,” said Rep. Anderson. “ACCG is a valuable resource and advocate for county government and their constituents. It is a pleasure to work alongside ACCG to pass legislation that protects Georgians and provides the tools and resources needed by Georgia’s county commissioners and staff.”
The ACCG Legislative Service Awards program honors state House and Senate members for their work during each legislative session. Rep. Anderson, a former Habersham County commissioner, chaired the 2021 House Study Committee on Annexation and sponsored House Bill 1461 during the 2022 legislative session, legislation supported by ACCG.
Through HB 1461, Rep. Anderson seeks to make improvements to the state’s annexation arbitration law and recognize that all impacted citizens should have their voices heard in annexation disputes. He is a member of the House Governmental Affairs Committee and has assisted ACCG with many bills impacting county government, home rule and county taxpayers.
The Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) is Georgia’s county association and works on behalf of county officials and their communities by providing public policy and legislative advocacy, leadership development, civic and community engagement initiatives, insurance and retirement programs that specialize in local government needs and other cost-saving programs. Formed in 1914 when county officials came together to help fund the state’s first highway department, ACCG today serves as a catalyst for advancing Georgia’s counties. For more information, go to www.accg.org.
BOC postpones construction of the Multi-purpose public health facility
News December 8, 2021
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. –The multi-purpose mass care facility that will be used to support public health operations in case of natural hazards or pandemics will be delayed until the Board of Commissioners determines the proper funding mechanism.
When it is constructed, the facility is expected to be used as a preparation and response site located at the Yonah Preserve area north of Cleveland to conduct emergency distribution mass evacuation and serve as a storm shelter.
The County had planned to utilize the nearly $6 million it received from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to construct the facility but as Chairman Travis Turner said during Monday’s regular meeting. The federal government required the County to adopt a resolution in August without guidelines as to how the money could be spent. Unfortunately, Turner said, the feds change the guidelines on a monthly basis.
Due to the caveats that may not mirror the values of the community, Turner said, ““We need to step back and see if there is a wiser way to go about doing what we’re trying to do here. With our research through the Association County Commissioners Georgia (ACCG) and National Association of Commissioners (NACO), the recommendation was that it is more prudent to place the ARPA funds into eligible human resources needs like wages and benefits.”
But Turner added that the multi-purpose facility is still on the radar. “Potentially we will revisit the facility at the first of the new year when we identify a proper funding source.”
Travis Turner receives appointment as Vice Chair of ACCG Policy Committee
News May 12, 2021
Travis Turner
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. — White County Commission Chairman Travis Turner has been appointed Vice Chair of the General County Government Policy Committee for the Association County Commissioners of Georgia.
In a letter appointing Turner as Vice Chair, ACCG President Steve Taylor said, “Based upon staff recommendations, your active participation with the association, and your demonstrated leadership, I am hereby appointing you to serve as the Vice Chair of the General County Government Policy Committee for the 2021-2022 policy year.”
The work done by the policy committees forms the foundation of the association’s lobbying efforts. “It is critical for these committees to have strong leadership which I am confident you will provide,” the letter stated. “I am certain you will find this experience informative and very rewarding.”
As Vice Chair of an ACCG policy committee, Turner is also now a member of ACCG’s Policy Council that will meet this fall to review the recommendations from the seven policy committees. The recommendations finalized at this meeting will be presented for a membership vote at the ACCG Annual Conference taking place in November. Lastly, during the legislative session, the Policy Council conducts weekly calls to hear briefings from the policy staff, to formulate official ACCG positions on legislation, and to discuss other timely issues impacting Georgia’s counties.